Tesla tax? We need a road pricing scheme for a modern congestion-free future Ben Ramanauskas Given the plethora of misery that accompanied yesterday’s Autumn Statement, it might have been possible to overlook a significant measures namely that electric vehicles will no longer be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty from April 2025. This is a glimmer of good news. It reveals something deeply encouraging as half of new vehicles will be [...]
Our Channel dilemma won’t go away until we overhaul the asylum system Ben Ramanauskas Over the last few days, we’ve heard incredibly troubling stories coming out of the Manston centre holding migrants who crossed over the Channel. The facility is holding as many as 2,000 more people than it has capacity for, with few coherent plans to deal with the delays. The overcrowding has left families sleeping in marquees, [...]
You want a baby boom? Don’t blame women, build an economy fit for families BEN RAMANAUSKAS Hopefully it won’t be a surprise to readers that when it comes to pregnancy, it takes two to tango. It ignores the plethora of other factors which determine whether a couple - not just women - choose to have a baby or not.
Conservative police chiefs are smoking something if they crack down on cannabis October 6, 2022 The benefits - in terms of health, economics and crime - of decriminalisation would be far greater than slapping more restrictions on weed.
Britain’s economic meltdown must be settled by a firm grip and real growth September 30, 2022 To say it’s been a dramatic week in financial markets would be an understatement. The reaction to the government’s so-called “mini-budget” has seen the value of sterling crash and has led to criticism from the IMF and the Federal Reserve and an unprecedented intervention from the Bank of England who have been forced to buy [...]
As we redefine levelling up, don’t ignore the poverty in London for political points September 15, 2022 London is also home to some of the most deprived areas in the country. There are pockets of poverty in practically every borough of London, including some of the most affluent.
It’s time to ignore the Nimbys tucked up in to bed by 10pm and re-pedestrianise Soho September 1, 2022 It’s not simply a question of unfairness to young people - though it is for anyone who doesn’t want to be tucked up in bed with a Horlicks at 11 - it’s also damaging to London’s economy.
Tariff-free trade with developing countries is good – but we can do better to open up August 23, 2022 Some of the world’s poorest countries will get one of the biggest trade boosts to export goods to the UK. Last week, the Department for International Trade announced plans to up the ante on existing EU rules, which already allow for less economically developed countries to export goods into the EU and the UK without [...]
We should question the mandate of the Bank of England – not its independence July 28, 2022 ONE OF the most surprising things to come out of the race to replace Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party has been the space the Bank of England has taken up in the discourse. One unsuccessful candidate argued the government should have more oversight of the Bank’s activities and current frontrunner Liz Truss [...]
Tax cuts won’t cut it; the new Tory leader must bring about innovation July 13, 2022 As I write, every candidate vying to be the next Conservative Party leader – with the exception of Rishi Sunak – has promised major tax cuts. In many ways this is welcome, as taxes can deter investment and increase the cost of living. During a time where families are struggling to make ends meet and [...]
